Results for historical fiction
Age 12+The Door of No Return
Lost African prince adventure/mystery with a unique premise.
Review Date: 8/19/2009
Age 12+Alligator Bayou
Moving, tragic tale of racism in Jim Crow South.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
Age 9+The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Brilliant high-seas adventure is a classic.
Review Date: 7/9/2009
Age 4+What Lincoln Said
An introduction to Abe Lincoln in his own words.
Review Date: 6/17/2009
Age 12+Mare's War
Unique African-American woman's WWII experience.
Review Date: 6/14/2009
Age 12+Sahwira: An African Friendship
Intense, dramatic story of an interracial friendship tested.
Review Date: 5/22/2009
Age 4+Buffalo Music
Inspirational story of a woman determined to save buffalo.
Review Date: 5/10/2009
Age 9+The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Civil War tall tale packs realistic punch.
Review Date: 4/9/2009
Age 10+The Way of the Warrior: Young Samurai, Book 1
British boy becomes samurai; exciting but violent.
Review Date: 3/19/2009
Age 11+Weedflower
Fresh perspective on WWII Japanese internment camps.
Review Date: 3/16/2009
Age 16+Guardian
Powerful book about lynching, rape; older teens only.
Review Date: 2/26/2009
Age 11+The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom
Cuban independence in informative but flat poetry.
Review Date: 2/8/2009
Age 13+Bog Child
Lyrical but realistic; teens may need Irish history lesson.
Review Date: 1/12/2009
Age 7+The Houdini Box
Lightweight story with great illustrations.
Review Date: 11/30/2008
Age 12+Chains
Brutal depiction of slavery in 1776 New York.
Review Date: 11/25/2008
Age 12+Copper Sun
Raw, well-researched story of young slave girl.
Review Date: 11/19/2008
Age 12+Here Lies Arthur
Exciting but darkly cynical view of Arthur legend.
Review Date: 10/31/2008
Age 13+Ivy
Dickens-style tale with addiction and thievery.
Review Date: 9/9/2008
Age 9+The Squire's Tale
Delightfully warmhearted Arthurian tales.
Review Date: 8/25/2008
Age 8+Meet Kit: An American Girl 1934
Kit meets economic adversity with courage, spunk.
Review Date: 5/28/2008
Age 9+Keeping Score
A child's view of '50s Dodgers and the Korean war.
Review Date: 4/3/2008
Age 10+Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial
Evolution case in brief poems about the locals.
Review Date: 3/2/2008
Age 10+Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party
Excellent intro to scary time in Chinese history.
Review Date: 2/22/2008
Age 5+Henry's Freedom Box
Heart-wrenching but hopeful story of escape.
Review Date: 1/18/2008
Age 9+On the Wings of Heroes
Funny, poignant life on home front during WWII.
Review Date: 1/6/2008
Age 9+The Arrival
Wordless book is a visual masterpiece.
Review Date: 11/19/2007
Age 9+Elijah of Buxton
Humorous, powerful, masterful escaped-slave tale.
Review Date: 11/18/2007
Age 9+Parade of Shadows
Historical, intriguing mystery-adventure-romance.
Review Date: 11/18/2007
Age 8+Meet Julie: An American Girl
Plucky '70s American Girl fights for her rights.
Review Date: 10/24/2007
Age 9+Into the Firestorm: A Novel of San Francisco, 1906
Plucky orphan survives San Francisco's big quake.
Review Date: 6/3/2007
Age 8+The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Spectacular book/film hybrid has lots of heart.
Review Date: 5/28/2007
Age 14+Incantation
Graphic Inquisition novel -- not for every teen.
Review Date: 4/10/2007
Age 10+Mable Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril, and Romance
History, adventure, and women's rights for 10+.
Review Date: 3/20/2007
Age 10+The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West
Gritty fictional take on a forgotten true story.
Review Date: 3/4/2007
Age 10+Counting on Grace
Compelling, fact-based story of child labor.
Review Date: 2/26/2007
Age 13+A True and Faithful Narrative
Engrossing read with strong 17th-century heroine.
Review Date: 2/19/2007
Age 12+The Braid
Immigrant story with a fascinating knotted twist.
Review Date: 1/31/2007
Age 10+Hattie Big Sky
Teen girl homesteads alone in Newbery Honor book.
Review Date: 1/28/2007
Age 9+Penny from Heaven
Slow but intriguing Newbery Honor book.
Review Date: 1/22/2007
Age 16+The Pox Party: Octavian Nothing, Vol. 1
Slavery-themed award-winner not for most teens.
Review Date: 1/8/2007
Age 5+Small Beauties: The Journey of Darcy Heart O'Hara
Small treasure explores Irish famine, emigration.
Review Date: 11/26/2006
Age 11+The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
A unique perspective on the Holocaust.
Review Date: 9/4/2006
Age 14+The Book Thief
Powerful teen novel about poor Germans in WWII.
Review Date: 4/14/2006
Age 6+Show Way
Beautiful story, from slavery to freedom.
Review Date: 3/7/2006
Age 9+Day of Tears : A Novel in Dialogue
Interesting story of historic slave auction.
Review Date: 2/8/2006
Age 8+Whittington
Clever retelling of a legend, from the cat's POV.
Review Date: 2/1/2006
Age 11+The Rifle
Historical yarn follows the life of a gun.
Review Date: 8/24/2005
Age 9+The Game of Silence
White settlers force Indian family to leave land.
Review Date: 7/5/2005
Age 9+Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Start of an exciting medieval adventures series.
Review Date: 3/21/2005
Age 9+Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
A preacher's son stands up to a racist town.
Review Date: 3/21/2005
Age 11+Al Capone Does My Shirts
What was the Newbery Committee thinking?
Review Date: 2/14/2005
Age 8+The Shadows of Ghadames
A girl's life in turn-of-the-century Muslim Libya.
Review Date: 1/31/2005
Age 9+The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
A funny novel with a devastating emotional punch.
Review Date: 9/20/2004
Age 11+Soldier's Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers
Vividly realistic depiction of war.
Review Date: 9/1/2004
Age 7+Morning Girl
Lyrical historical fiction with a knockout punch.
Review Date: 8/13/2004
Age 11+Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
A family deals with racism in a Mississippi town.
Review Date: 5/8/2004
Age 11+My Brother Sam Is Dead
Great novel about the Revolution for older kids.
Review Date: 5/8/2004
Age 10+The Slave Dancer
Moderately graphic depiction of the slave trade.
Review Date: 5/5/2004
Age 12+Witness
Confusing yet compelling tale of racism.
Review Date: 5/5/2004
Age 13+Broken Days
Makes history exciting for teens.
Review Date: 3/9/2004
Age 11+Across Five Aprils
This historical tale is captivating and memorable.
Review Date: 3/3/2004
Age 9+Moon of Two Dark Horses
Haunting tale set during the Revolutionary War.
Review Date: 2/24/2004
Age 11+Before We Were Free
Young readers may need some historical context.
Review Date: 2/17/2004
Age 9+Shakespeare's Spy
Shakespearean adventure is a disappointment.
Review Date: 1/12/2004
Age 9+The Shakespeare Stealer
A fresh look at Shakespeare for young readers.
Review Date: 1/12/2004
Age 9+Ghosts I Have Been
Peck combines shivery horror with slapstick humor.
Review Date: 1/7/2004
Age 9+Number the Stars
Brave girl helps smuggle Jewish friends to safety.
Review Date: 12/11/2003
Age 8+Chig and the Second Spread
Keeps harshness of Depression mostly at bay.
Review Date: 12/8/2003
Age 10+Aleutian Sparrow
Few kids will want to read it all the way through.
Review Date: 11/10/2003
Age 13+Out of Time (1996)
A preposterous but entertaining yarn.
Review Date: 10/3/2003
Age 9+Santa, Are You for Real?
For those ready to learn the truth about Santa.
Review Date: 10/1/2003
Age 6+Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Enslaved girl's courage will engage older kids.
Review Date: 9/30/2003
Age 14+This Vast Land: A Young Man's Journal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Graphic sex scene makes this for mature readers.
Review Date: 9/29/2003
Age 11+Milkweed
Disturbing book on Holocaust demands discussion.
Review Date: 9/19/2003
Age 11+The River Between Us
Civil War realism for young readers.
Review Date: 9/16/2003
Age 14+Fallen Angels
A vivid portrayal of the war in Vietnam.
Review Date: 9/16/2003
Age 12+The Devil's Arithmetic
Intense Holocaust story propels readers along.
Review Date: 9/11/2003
Age 13+Beyond the Burning Time
Fascinating, graphic look at Salem witch trials.
Review Date: 9/11/2003
Age 13+The Secret of Sarah Revere
Decent historical fiction for fans.
Review Date: 9/9/2003
Age 11+Early Thunder
Brush with danger changes a boy's life forever.
Review Date: 9/4/2003
Age 8+The Cabin Faced West
Story takes kids back to the frontier days.
Review Date: 9/4/2003
Age 13+A Stitch in Time
A compelling story about sisters in 1700s Salem.
Review Date: 9/2/2003
Age 13+Prisoner of Time
An interesting picture of 19th-century society.
Review Date: 9/2/2003
Age 13+The Blue Door
Potboiler plot, but some good history.
Review Date: 9/2/2003
Age 6+Sybil's Night Ride
Engaging, if sometimes stiff, tale of a heroine.
Review Date: 8/27/2003
Age 13+The Fifth of March
So-so historical fiction mixed with romance.
Review Date: 8/26/2003
Age 11+Tibet Through the Red Box
The meandering, dreamy story may limit its appeal.
Review Date: 8/26/2003
Age 9+And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
Adventure and humor mix with history.
Review Date: 8/25/2003
Age 9+Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?
Fun story about quirky patriot's quest.
Review Date: 8/25/2003
Age 9+The Witch of Blackbird Pond
1600s America springs to life for today's kids.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 9+Out of the Dust
A penetrating look at a poor child's life.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 4+Alice Ramsay's Grand Adventure
The enjoyable story of Alice Ramsey.
Review Date: 8/19/2003
Age 6+Ben's Dream
Kids may need help with geographical references.
Review Date: 8/19/2003
Age 9+Rodzina
Kids may need some historical background.
Review Date: 8/18/2003
Age 11+Molly's Fire
A quirky story with hidden riches.
Review Date: 8/14/2003
Age 11+Johnny Tremain
Dry by today's standards, but still worthwhile.
Review Date: 8/13/2003
Age 10+Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun
A vivid picture of Perry's historic mission.
Review Date: 8/13/2003
Age 4+Follow the Drinking Gourd
Engages children by bringing history to life.
Review Date: 8/5/2003
Age 11+Daniel's Story
Historical tale suffers from weak narrative.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 5+Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Charged-up intro to Ellington, his band & music.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 9+D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
Action-packed, fascinating intro to Greek myths.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 9+Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction
Learn how ancient cathedrals were built.
Review Date: 7/24/2003
